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Pepperoni French Bread Pizza

Created On:   |  Updated:   |   46 Comments

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The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.

This French Bread Pizza recipe is excellent for pizza nights or weekends. It’s one of the easiest ways to make pizza. Plus, it takes less than 30 minutes!

Plus, it costs about $10.79 to feed six people. That works out to approximately $1.79 per serving!

An overhead picture of the finished French Bread Pizza on parchment paper before it's cut into slices.

French Bread Pizza

Friday night, pizza night! Is that a thing for anyone else? It is for us. Pizza is such an excellent option for families with picky eaters. We have our share of those in our homes (insert smack my head emoji), so this French bread pizza recipe is one of our favorites.

You can put out a variety of toppings and let everyone put what they want on their pizza. DIY French Bread Pizza…Super easy! 

Pizza every single week made the same way can get old, though. It’s fun to add some variety to classic recipes. Enter this homemade French bread pizza. It is the perfect solution. The crusty outer layer of the French bread is delicious and a nice change from traditional pizza dough.

You can pick up a loaf of French bread for around $1.00 at Walmart and use some leftover items in your fridge from the prior week, such as green peppers, pineapple, ham, feta, shredded chicken, and spinach. Look at that, an easy meal for pennies that is tastier and better for you than the frozen kind! 

Why This Is The Best French Bread Pizza

  1. Bread: Soft French bread is the perfect vessel for the pizza and toppings.
  2. Seasonings: Adding herbs and seasonings like oregano and garlic powder to the butter brushed onto the bread enhances the overall flavor profile of the pizza.
  3. Personalization: One of the advantages of this recipe is its versatility. You can personalize the recipe by adding your favorite ingredients, such as olives, mushrooms, bell peppers, or onions, to make it unique and appealing to your taste.

Ingredients & Estimated Cost:

Recipe Cost: $10.79
Per Serving: $1.79
  • 1 ½ large loaves French bread, cut in half lengthwise – $1.97
  • 8 Tablespoons salted butter, cut into 16 pieces – $1.12 
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder – $0.08
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano – $0.05
  • 14 oz jar pizza sauce – $2.62
  • ½ cup sliced pepperoni – $2.45
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese – $2.50

The recipe cost is calculated by the amounts needed for the recipe. To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained. The pricing for this recipe was updated in June 2023.

All of the ingredients needed to make this recipe.

How To Make French Bread Pizza

***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.

  1. First, melt the butter and add garlic powder and parsley.
  2. Next, slice the French bread lengthwise and brush the garlic butter mixture onto the bread.
  3. Then place it in the oven for 6 minutes. Top your French bread with your desired toppings.
  4. Bake it for another 10 minutes.
  5. Let it cool for about 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
A picture collage showing how to make this recipe.

French Bread Pizza Recipe Variations

  • Veggie Delight: Load your French Bread Pizza with colorful vegetables like bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes. You can sauté the veggies before adding them to the pizza for added flavor.
  • Margherita Style: Keep it simple with classic Margherita toppings. Use fresh basil leaves, sliced tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Drizzle some olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper for a fresh and light flavor.
  • BBQ Chicken: Instead of using marinara sauce, brush the French bread with barbecue sauce. Top it with cooked and shredded chicken, red onions, and a blend of cheeses. Finish it with more barbecue sauce for a tangy and smoky twist.
  • Mediterranean Twist: Replace the marinara sauce with a pesto spread. Add ingredients like sliced black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese, and fresh basil leaves. You can even sprinkle some pine nuts for extra crunch.
  • Hawaiian Style: Give your French Bread Pizza a tropical touch using ham or Canadian bacon, pineapple chunks, and mozzarella cheese. The combination of sweet and savory flavors is sure to be a hit.

Bread Pizza Substitutions

  • Bread: If you don’t have French bread or baguette, you can use other bread options like Italian bread, ciabatta, or even pre-made pizza crusts.
  • Sauce: Instead of pizza sauce, use marinara sauce, or you can experiment with alternatives like Alfredo sauce, garlic butter, or even a combination of pesto and cream cheese.
  • Cheese: While mozzarella is commonly used, you can substitute it with other melting cheeses like cheddar, Monterey Jack, or provolone.

Storage Tips

SERVE: We do not recommend keeping the pizza out at room temperature for longer than 1 hour before wrapping leftovers in plastic wrap or foil and store in the refrigerator. 

STORE: Leftovers can be wrapped in plastic or foil in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

  • TO REHEAT: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and place the leftovers on a baking sheet. Heat for about 10 minutes or until the pizza is heated through and the cheese is nice and melty. 

FREEZE: Whole, cooked pizzas should be cooled to room temperature and then wrapped in plastic wrap followed by foil. When prepared this way, they will keep for up to three months in the freezer.

  • TO REHEAT: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and place the pizza on a baking sheet. Heat for about fifteen to twenty minutes or until the pizza is heated and the cheese melts.
A loaf of bread pizza cut into slices.

Recipe FAQs

Where did French Bread Pizza originate?

Serious Eats shares the history of how French bread pizza, nicknamed the poor man’s pizza, was created by Bob Petrillose. Bob created it in the 1960s when pizza delivery was not a thing yet. He owned a food truck outside of a college campus and wanted to make fresh pizza available to starving students. French bread pizza was his solution, and oh boy, have we benefited from his creation!

How long do you put French bread pizza in the oven?

Place the pizza in a 475-degree oven for 6 minutes. Remove it from the oven, place the desired toppings on top, and place it back in the oven for another 10 minutes, and now you’ve turned plain French bread into delicious pizza! 

How do you keep French bread pizza from getting soggy?

Be sure to brush the bread with the butter mixture and then cook the bread without any toppings or sauce. This gives the bread a nice toasty texture and will help prevent it from getting soggy after adding the sauce and toppings.

What is French bread pizza made of?

Our recipe uses seven simple ingredients. The recipe includes French bread, salted butter, garlic powder, oregano, pizza sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese.

Get Kids Involved

Ages 2-3: Let them pick out which toppings they want and have them place them on their section of the French bread.

Ages 4-5: Have them remove the toppings from the fridge, pick out which toppings they want, and place them on their section of the French bread. Also, have them brush the French bread with the butter mixture. 

Ages 6-8: Have them prepare any toppings, grate the cheese, and make their own French bread pizza. You could also have them spoon the sauce onto each pizza and spread it with the back of a spoon. 

Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe. 

Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe unsupervised while you do the happy dance in the corner!

Budget Tips

  • Invite some friends and family over for a fun pizza night. Ask everyone to bring a couple of their favorite toppings. This is an inexpensive way for everyone to enjoy some yummy food.
  • When we make our 1-Hour French Bread to serve alongside a pasta dish or some other meal, we save one loaf for making this pizza. It is a great way to stretch the grocery budget and get two meals out of one.
A close up of a slice of Homemade French Bread Pizza on a cutting board.

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Cut up slices of French Bread Pizza.

French Bread Pizza

Recipe Cost 10.79
Serving Cost 1.79
Author Easy Budget Recipes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
This French Bread Pizza recipe is excellent for pizza nights or weekends. It’s one of the easiest ways to make pizza. Plus, it takes less than 30 minutes!
Servings: 6 people
Prep Time 6 minutes
Cook Time 16 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes


Equipment

  • baking sheet
  • small microwave-safe bowl
  • pastry brush
  • wire rack
  • bread knife

Ingredients
 

  • 1 ½ large loaves French bread cut in half lengthwise
  • 8 Tablespoons salted butter cut into 16 pieces
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 14 oz jar pizza sauce
  • ½ cup sliced pepperoni
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Move the oven rack to the upper-middle position and preheat the oven to 475 degrees Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set aside.
  • Place the butter in a small microwave-safe bowl and heat until melted. Stir in the garlic powder and oregano.
  • Place the bread on the prepared baking sheet, cut side up, and brush the butter mixture over bread.
  • Bake for 6 minutes, or until the bread has dried out some and the edges have begun to brown.
  • Remove the bread from the oven and distribute the pepperoni evenly over the bread, reserving a few for the top of the bread.
  • Divide the pizza sauce evenly among the bread and use the back of a spoon to spread the sauce into an even layer.
  • Sprinkle the cheese over the bread and top with the reserved pepperoni. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
  • Move the pan to a wire rack and let the pizzas cool for 5 minutes before slicing and eating!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 682kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 1004mg | Potassium: 316mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1005IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 220mg | Iron: 2mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Katie says

    5 stars
    Is it just me, or is this yet another recipe that’s proof that homemade is always better? These are so tasty, simple, and perfect for Friday movie night!

    Reply

  5. Danielle says

    5 stars
    Now this is the French Bread Pizza to make! My friends were telling me of it for ages, and I was quite resistant to making it. Not anymore – this recipe has it all!

    Reply

  20. Chelsea says

    5 stars
    Omg amazing! I used a sourdough loaf from Vons bakery. The butter herb first is definitely key. Made this for a quarantine date night with my husband. You girls are so beautiful and smart keep up the good work!

    Reply

  21. Mya Murphy says

    This brings amazing memories! My mom used to make similar French Bread pizzas when we got home from school. So yummers!!

    Reply

  22. Traci says

    5 stars
    this is the best French Bread Pizza I have tried. Not only a hit with the fam, but easy to boot. I usually bake an extra garlic loaf to have in fridge for next day pizzas or to serve as a side. Loving many recipes on this site! THANK YOU!!

    Reply

  23. Christy Jayne says

    5 stars
    Bought several loaves of bread at end of day for $.79/each, and I want you to know that we made these entirely plant based, and they were absolutely delicious! My husband wants them all the time now. Thank you for the recipe!

    Reply

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